The “Workshop on Documentation and Inventorying of Intangible Cultural Heritage for Sri Lanka (Third Session)” was successfully held from July 14 to 17, 2026, in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka. The workshop was jointly organized by the International Training Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region under the auspices of UNESCO (CRIHAP), the China Cultural Center in Sri Lanka, and the National Library and Documentation Services Board of Sri Lanka.

The opening ceremony was addressed by Mr. Ni Lisheng, Director of the China Cultural Center in Sri Lanka; Ms. Champa Janaki Rajarathna, Governor of Sabaragamuwa Province; Mr. W. Sunil, Director General of the National Library and Documentation Services Board; and other relevant provincial leaders. Over 40 representatives from the provincial cultural department participated in this training.

The course was delivered by UNESCO facilitators Mr. Nandadeva Bilinda Devage and Mr. Gamini S. Wijesuriya, along with Mr. Udaya Cabral, Deputy Director of the National Library. The curriculum focused on the core concepts of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, the library’s experience in information collection and archiving, and collaborative approaches to inventory-making with communities.

The workshop employed various methods, including thematic lectures, field research, community interviews, and group discussions. Key topics covered included ethical principles for community collaboration, documentation methods, interview techniques, audio-visual recording practices, and inventory archive compilation.

During the training, the facilitators divided participants into groups for fieldwork. They collaborated with communities to practice inventory-making on local ICH elements, including gem mining, traditional medicine, mask carving, and Kithul Madeema/Kithul Kapeema, an ancient indigenous technology for tapping Kithul. During the field visits, participants exchanged views with community members on the history, cultural background, livelihood impact, and challenges of these ICH elements. Following the fieldwork, each group presented their findings, and the facilitators provided comments and feedback.